Congenital mitral stenosis.

Only 14 examples of congenital mitral stenosis uncomplicated by other cardiovascular abnormality have been reported (Summons, 1906; Newns, 1938; Emery and Illingworth, 1951; Maxwell and Young, 1954; Braudo et al., 1957; Bower et al., 1953; Starkey, 1959). In the majority of accounts of this subject, mitral stenosis has been complicated by other cardiac anomalies. Thus, of the 9 patients described by Ferencz et al. (1954), 8 had significant associated cardiac lesions, and of 34 patients quoted by them from other sources, only 8 had an uncomplicated lesion. The descriptions of the clinical features of previously reported cases are confusing because the majority had additional cardiac lesions. We are therefore describing four patients with isolated congenital mitral stenosis to clarify the clinical features, to stress the poor prognosis, and to discuss surgical treatment.